The following DEs, APDs, DERs and FFs were involved in
action and/or damaged while in service to the US Navy. This information has been compiled
from various books and internet sources. If you have information to include, please email
detailed information to the webmaster. This is
a work in progress and not meant to be all inclusive.

1943
January 20 - Destroyer escort USS Brennan (DE-13) is commissioned at Mare Island,
California. This is the first ship of this type to be placed in commission.

December 23 - The Japanese submarine I-39 is sunk by USS Griswold (DE-7)
in the Solomons.

April 1 - UGS 36 was attacked by German medium and torpedo bombers at approximate position 36-45 d. N., 01-59.5 d. E.USS Tomich (DE-242) sighted the enemy
aircraft, a Dornier217, and shot down the aircraft with 40mm and 20mm gun fire.

May 3 - USS Donnell (DE-56) is damaged by submarine torpedo of U-473 (former credit given to U-765), 450 miles southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland. 29 crewmembers KIA. See a Photo
USS Menges (DE-320) is damaged by U-371 torpedo off Bougie, Algeria, in the western
Mediterranean. Action Report, Photos, POW Interrogation and more.

May 4 - German submarine U-371 is sunk by USS Joseph E. Campbell
(DE-70) and USS Pride (DE-323) and British and French surface craft in the western
Mediterranean. Read the Action Report

May 6 - USS Buckley (DE-51) is damaged by her intentional ramming of U-66 in the mid-Atlantic, 17 d. 17' N., 32 d. 24' W. Read about the action

May 13 - Japanese submarine RO-501 (ex-German U-1224) is sunk by
USS Francis M. Robinson (DE-220) in the mid-Atlantic, 400 miles south-southwest of the Azores, 18 d. 08' N., 33 d. 13' W. Read the story on the Robinson web site

June 11 - German submarine U-490 is sunk by aircraft (VC-95) from the escort carrier
USS Croatan (CVE-25) and destroyer escorts USS Frost (DE-144), USS Huse (DE-145) and
USS Inch (DE-146) in the north Atlantic. See the Photos and Action Reports

June 16 - Japanese submarine RO-44 is sunk by USS Burden R.
Hastings (DE-19) in the Marshalls, 11 d. 13' N, 164 d. 15'
E., 110 miles East of Eniwetok.

July 3 - German submarine U-154 is sunk by USS Frost (DE-144)
and USS Inch (DE-146) off Madiera.

July 4 - Japanese submarine I-10 is sunk by USS David W. Taylor
(DD-551) and USS Riddle (DE-185) in the Marianas, 65 miles East NE of
Saipan, 15 d. 26' N, 147 d. 48' E.

July 14 - Japanese submarine I-6 is sunk by USS William C. Miller
(DE-259) in the Marianas.
[Update 2006 - recent records indicate that I-6 is incorrect. The
submarine sunk by DE-259 may have been I-55 or RO-48]

July 19 - Japanese submarine RO-48 is sunk by USS Wyman (DE-38)
in the central Pacific, 13 d. 01' N,151 d. 58' E.
[Update 2006 - There is debate as to which sub was sunk by Wyman.
Some sources now say that RO-48 was sunk by DE-259, as noted above]

July 28 - Japanese submarine I-55 is sunk by USS Wyman (DE-38)
and USS Reynolds (DE-42) in the central Pacific, 400 nm
east of Tinian, 14 d. 26' N, 152 d. 16' E.
[This information may or may not be correct. See the dates July 14
and 19, above]

August 2 - USS Fiske (DE-143) is sunk by a U-804 torpedo in the north
Atlantic. 33 men KIA.

September 26 - Japanese submarine I-(?) is sunk by USS McCoy
Reynolds (DE-440) northeast of the Palau Islands.

September 30 - German submarine U-1062 is sunk by USS Fessenden
(DE-142) in the mid-Atlantic.

October 25 - Battle for Leyte Gulf. The Japanese Southern Force enters Surigao Strait
where it is engaged and virtually destroyed by Rear Admiral Oldendorf's force of
battleships, cruisers, destroyers and motor torpedo boats (Battle of Surigao Strait).
Meanwhile, the Japanese Center Force, including 4 battleships and 5 cruisers, having
passed into the Philippine Sea during the night, attacks six escort carriers and screening
vessels commanded by Rear Admiral Sprague - Task Unit 77.4.3's "Taffy
Three" (Battle off Samar). After inflicting severe
damage on this light US force, the Center Force retires without molesting the landing
operations in the Leyte Gulf area. At the same time, carrier aircraft from the Third Fleet
locate and strike the Japanese Northern Force. Four Japanese carriers and other vessels
are sunk (Battle of Gape Engano). US naval vessels sunk during the battle include the
escort carrier USS St. Lo (CVE-63) by suicide plane; the escort carrier USS Gambier Bay
(CVE-73) by naval gunfire; the destroyers USS Hoel (DD-533) and USS Johnston (DD-557) and
the destroyer escort USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) by navalgunfire and PT-493. US naval
vessels damaged during the battle include the escort carriers USS Sangamon (CVE-26), USS
Santee (CVE-29), USS White Plains (CVE-66), USS Kalinin Bay (CVE-68), USS Fanshaw Bay
(CVE-70) and USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) by suicide planes and naval gunfire; the destroyer
USS Heerman (DD-523) by naval gunfire; and the destroyer escorts USS Richard M. Rowell
(DE-403) and USS Dennis (DE-405) by strafing and naval gunfire.

On this same date, USS Coolbaugh
(DE-217), operating in the screen of "Taffy One", spots a periscope wake.
I-26 is operating in the area and LtCdr Nishiuchi reports his sighting of
four enemy carriers. This is the last message Japanese headquarters
received from Nishiuchi.

Two torpedoes are fired from the sub
and narrowly miss USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80). Coolbaugh drops depth
charges and fires hedgehogs in several attacks on the sub over the next 24
hours. Coolbaugh rejoins the task unit. The next morning USS
Richard M. Rowell (DE-403) attacks the sub.

Nishiuchi fails to acknowledge a
message from Japanese headquarters on 27 Oct. It remains unclear
which DE sank I-26, if either.

October 28 - USS Eversole (DE-404) is sunk by I-45 torpedo in the
Leyte area. 80 men lost.
Later that day, I-45 sunk by the destroyer escort USS Whitehurst
(DE-634).

January 23 - Japanese submarine I-48 is sunk by
USS Corbesier
(DE-438), USS Conklin (DE-438) and USS Raby (DE-698) off of Yap Island in the Caroline
Islands, 09 d. 45'N, 138 d. 20' E. The I-48 is sunk with her 122-man
crew and four kaiten pilots. None of the I-48's kaitens were launched.

February 1 - Submarine RO-115 is said to be sunk by the destroyers USS Jenkins (DD-447), USS O'Bannon
(DD-450) and USS Bell (DD-587) and USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) in
the Philippines.(3)

April 1 - Marines and Army forces land on Okinawa, under cover of heavy naval gunfire and
air attack. The operation is under the overall command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance,
Commander Fifth Fleet with Vice Admiral Turner commanding the Joint Expeditionary Force
and Lt. General A. B. Buckner commanding the ground troops. Army forces are landed near
Legaspi on southern Luzon, under cover Army aircraft and naval gunfire. US naval vessels
damaged during the landings include USS Vammen (DE-644) by mine.

April 6 - The first heavy attack by Japanese suicide planes is made on US ships at
Okinawa. These attacks continue throughout the Okinawa campaign. High-speed transport USS
Daniel T. Griffin (APD-38) damaged by collision; USS Witter (DE-636) - six crewmembers KIA - and
USS Fieberling (DE-640) by suicide planes.

May 6 - The last two u-boat sinkings before the German surrender.
German submarine U-853 is sunk by USS Atherton (DE-169)
and the frigate USS Moberly (PF-63) near Cape Cod, Massachusettes. Read the story and view photos.
This was the last u-boat sinking in US waters and the first since the war
of 1812.
U-881 is sunk by USS Farquhar (DE-139) in the north Atlantic, 43 d. 18' N, 47 d. 44' W.
This is noted as the last u-boat sinking in the Atlantic, only hours before the German
surrender.

May 16 - U-234 surrendered to USS Forsyth USCG
assisted by USS Sutton (DE-771) near Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Captured U-boat, U-873, was delivered to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, by the 21 USS VANCE (DE-387) crewmembers who
took over her helm following the capture on May 11.

May 19 - USS Vammen (DE-655) is damaged by collision in the Okinawa
area.

May 20 - USS John C. Butler (DE-339), USS Chase
(APD-54) and USS Register (APD-92) are damaged by suicide planes and USS Tattnall (APD-19) by a horizontal bomber, all in the Okinawa area.

June 9 - USS Gendreau (DE-639) is damaged by coastal defense guns in
the Okinawa area.

June 15 - USS O'Flaherty (DE-340) is damaged by collision in the
Okinawa area.

June 21 - USS Halloran (DE-305) is damaged by a suicide plane in the
Okinawa area.

June 24 - USS Neuendorf (DE-200) is damaged by collision in the
Philippines.

July 16 - Japanese submarine (probably I-13) is sunk by aircraft (VC-13) from the escort carrier USS
Anzio (CVE-57) and by USS Lawrence C. Taylor (DE-415), east of Japan.
[*Note* DE-415 was the last DE to sink a Japanese submarine during WWII]

July 24 - USS Underhill (DE-682) suffered catastrophic damage by a
piloted torpedo (Kaiten submarine), I-53, off Luzon, P. I., 19 d. 20' N, 126 d. 42' E. Underhill exploded in half. 112
crewmembers were KIA. The rear section of Underhill
remained afloat and later that day was sunk by United States war ships.

August 3 -USS Earl V. Johnson (DE-70) is damaged by an explosion in
the Philippine Sea.

August 9 - USS Johnnie Hutchins (DE-360) encountered a nest of midget Japanese
submarines while operating between the Ryukyus and the Philippines. She destroyed one by point-blank range gunfire, 20 d. 20' N, 126 d. 57' E., and another with depth charges, 20 d. 15' N,
126 d. 56' E. Eight miles away, 20 d. 20" N, 126 d. 57' E, a run was made on a third with a probable sinking.

August 21 - Mili Atoll in the Marshalls surrenders. This is the first Japanese garrison to
capitulate in the Pacific Ocean Area. Surrender is accepted on board USS
Levy (DE-162).

(1)Many sources show that on 3 October 1944 USS SAMUEL S.
MILES DE 183 sank Japanese submarine I-364 in the Palau Islands. This is incorrect. On this date DE 183 sank I-177. This information has been verified by official USN and
Japanese Imperial Navy documents and by information provided by a DE 183 crewmember.

(2) Many sources show that
on 19 November 1944 USS McCOY REYNOLDS DE 440 and USS CONKLIN DE 439 sank Japanese submarine I-177. This is incorrect. On this date DE 439 and 440 sank I-37.
This information has been verified by official USN and Japanese Imperial Navy documents.

(3) "It is now generally assumed that RO-55 was sunk by BATFISH (SS-310) on Feb. 9, 1945. BATFISH claimed three submarines between Feb 9 and 11, 1945. The identity
of two of these kills, RO-112 and RO-113, has been established beyond a resonable doubt. The third submarine, however, was initially identified as I-41 until a post-war examination of
Japanese records indicated that I-41 must have been sunk by LAWRENCE C. TAYLOR DE 415 on Nov 17, 1944. Consequently, BATFISH was credited with the destruction of RO-55 instead of THOMASON
(DE-203), since BATFISH definitely sank a submarine (debris was recovered), while THOMASON's claim was supported by convincing, but less substantial, evidence (subsurface luminous explosion and
oil slick); if RO-55 had indeed evaded THOMASON and NEUENDORF's attacks, it could have been in the general vicinity of BATFISH's action. Boyd and Yoshida claim that RO-115 is actually the
identity of BATFISH's third submarine and return credit for sinking RO-55 to THOMASON (p. 216). This reassessment removes claim for RO-115 from the action of ULVERT M. MOORE DE 442 and
other ships on Feb 1, 1945, indicating that no submarine was sunk at that time. No reason for this reassessment, however, was provided by the authors. The possibility that THOMASON
sank an Army YU type transport submarine has also been proposed; see Warship International 35, no. 3 (1998): 221."Franklin, Bruce Hampton, 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, p. 189, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.

(4) "This submarine was formerly identified as U-869, but this
has turned out to be incorrect. The wreck of U-869 was found by divers on 2 Sept 1991, off Point Pleasant, N.J. The identify of the submarine attributed to FOWLER and L'INDISCRET was
based on a post-war reading of German records that indicated that U-869 was ordered to change its course to the western approaches of Gilbraltar and was then lost at about the same time FOWLER
engaged a target off Africa. The order to change course was apparently not received by U-869. A further reexamination of the records surrounding FOWLER'S attack reveals that the
original assessment was "insufficient evidence for the presence of a submarine," and the record was changed to "probably sunk" after the war. It is likely that FOWLER did not sink a
submarine at the time."Franklin, Bruce Hampton, 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, p. 189, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
In 2005, the credit for sinking U-869 was given to USS HOWARD D. CROW DE
252 on Feb 11, 1945.

(5) The original post-war assessment by Roscoe
credits BUCKLEY DE 51 and REUBEN JAMES DE 153 with the
destruction of U-879. However, further research by Axel Niestlé notes the attack actually
accounted for the sinking of U-548 at 42°19N/61°45W. Niestlé
states that the sinking of
U-548 was credited originally
to USS THOMAS DE 102, USS COFFMAN DE 191 and USS BOSTWICK DE
103, on 30 April 1945 in position 36°34N/74°00W, but this
action probably accounted for the sinking of U-879.
Franklin notes, "Recent
physical evidence has proved that the submarine was actually
U-548, a submarine credited to the action of COFFMAN and
BOSTWICK on 30 April 1945. It now appears that the
U-boat sunk by COFFMAN'S group was either U-857, formerly
credited to the action of GUSTAFSON DE 182 on 7 April 1945,
or U-879.

Sources: 1. United States Naval Chronology, World War II. Prepared in the Naval History Division, Office of the Chief ofNaval Operations, Navy
Department.Published by the United States Government Printing Office,Washington, D.C., 1955 2. Cressman, Robert J., 2000, The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II, Naval Institute Press,
Annapolis, MD.3. Franklin, Bruce Hampton 1999, The Buckley-Class Destroyer Escorts, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis.
4.
Bauer, K. Jack, Roberts, Stephen S., 1991, Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990, Greenwood
Press, Westport, CT.
5. Morison, Samuel E., Hisory of the United States Naval Operations In World War II, Vols. I-XV, Little Brown
and Co., Boston, MA.
6. Webmaster research of USN official documents including DE Action Reports from deck logs and war
diaries.

USS William Seiverling DE 441

Fireroom flooded after being hit by a shore battery
at Wonsan, North Korea. No casualties